What function do lysozyme have in a human body?

Answer 1

Lysozyme (aka Muramidase) - Bacteriolytic properties:

lysozyme is a heat stable cationic muramidase ( proteins belonging to the hydrolase family- enzymes )that is present in most bodily secretions such as saliva, tears, serum and also present in human neutophils.

Lysozyme functions as an anti bacterial agent by catalysing the hydrolysis of specific glycosidic linkages in the peptidoglycan that forms bacterial cell walls. cell degredation follows the activation of cell wall autolysins by lysozome.

Lysozyme can be found in high concentrations in egg white, and Hen Egg White lysozyme (HEWL) has been used industrially for some time. (there is a new non animal form called Lysobac, with a more reliable consistent net yield, as there can be alot of variation in concentration and there for the net yield of bacterial clearance from sample to sample). HEWL is most effective for the lysis of gram positive bacteria. Has little effect on the the lysis of gram negative bacteria, mainly due to the protective outer of the double membrane that is characteristic of those microbes, limits the access of the enzyme to its substrate.

Answer 2

a lysosome**

is a cell organelle that breaks down waste in a cell by means of chemical processes. It is basically the garbage disposal in a cell.